'Early Dylan poem' is Hank Snow song

A poem that was handwritten by the 16-year-old Bob Dylan has been revealed as adapted song lyrics by the late Canadian country musician Hank Snow.

It had previously been announced that the verse, titled 'Little Buddy', was being put up for auction as a Dylan poem at Christie's.

However, a reader informed Reuters that the poem matched the Snow lyrics with minor variations and the agency alerted the auction house.

A statement from Christie's read: "Additional information has come to our attention about the handwritten poem submitted by Bob Dylan to his camp newspaper.

"The words are in fact a revised version of lyrics of a Hank Snow song. This still remains among the earliest known handwritten lyrics of Bob Dylan and Christie's is pleased to offer them in our Pop Culture auction on June 23."